Monument record 805/32 - Fotheringhay hermitage, unlocated

{1} Moated earthwork enclosure bounded by the mill brook on the north and adjacent to the lane running north from the village in 1548 and 1716, which continued across the stream to skirt the eastern edge of the Great Park and on to Nassington. Though some hermitage sites are seen to be moated enclosures in similar topographical situations, this is unlikely given the description of the Hermitage as lying in the wood or forest. No other interpretation has yet be identified for this earthwork, which survived in 1947 but had been ploughed by 1996.

The Hermitage, belonging to Sawtry Abbey is first recorded in 1176 when it is described as being in the wood. Hence the claim that it had been founded by John de Balliol in 1237 must be in error. The Abbot of Sawtry held it as a single tenement with one carucate of land but was responsible to provide a chaplain to perform services three times a week. In 1535 Sawtry Abbey held a property 'in the forest' called the Hermitage. The location of the hermitage has not been established but, although the Abbott held at least one tenement in the village, it was probably not the Hermitage, which may have lain at a distance from the village if the reference to the forest is to be taken literally.

<1> FOARD G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Fotheringhay (Medieval and Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100481.

<2> 1696, Fotheringhay 1696, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100483.

<3> 1793, Fotheringhay Inclosure Map 1793, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100484.

<4> 1806, 1806 Schedule to 1716 map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100482.

Record last edited

May 30 2012 3:50PM